Trilogy of Natural Ease

The Trilogy of Finding Comfort and Ease is a trilogy of Dzogchen writings by Longchen Rabjam:

Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind. In Sanskrit : Mahāsaṃdhi cittatva* viśrānta nāma: named Reposing in the Suchness of Mind in the Great Perfection
Finding Comfort and Ease in Meditation. In the language of India: Mahāsaṃdhi dhyāna viśrānta nāma: named Reposing in Meditation on the Great Perfection
Finding Comfort and Ease in the Illusoriness of Things, also called in Sanskrit: Mahāsaṃdhi māyā viśrānta nāma.

Intent of the Trilogy, and the logic of their sequence

Regarding the intent of the Trilogy as a whole, Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, in the introduction to Finding Rest in the Nature of Mind, comments:
Padmakara Translation Group comments:
Longchenpa's commentary on the trilogy as a whole, entitled An Ocean of Fine Explanation: An Overview of the Trilogy of Comfort and Ease says:

In the beginning, when we first set out on the path, it is important that we establish a good foundation in the Dharma, and that is why the thirteen chapters of Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind, from the difficulty of finding the freedoms and advantage onwards, offer an elaborate explanation of the Ground, the view that is beyond the two extremes. At the same time, they also explain aspects of the stages of the path and fruition.
Once we have understood the ground, we can begin to meditate on the path, and so the four chapters of Finding Comfort and Ease in Meditation offer a step-by-step explanation of the places where meditation can be practised, the types of individual suited to the practice, the techniques we can use in meditation and the types of concentration that can be achieved.
While this path is being practised it is important to have teachings on non-attachment and non-clinging towards phenomena. Thus, as a support, a clear and elaborate presentation of the stages of conduct is given in the eight chapters of Finding Comfort and Ease in the Illusoriness of Things. These chapters reveal, thoroughly and without any error, how to relate to all phenomena and to experience them as the eight similes of illusoriness.

English translations

The root text

The three parts translated in

Padmakara Translation Group, The Trilogy of Rest. Boulder, Colorado: Shambhala Publications.
*Finding Rest in the Nature of the Mind ISBN 978-1-61180-516-1
*Finding Rest in Meditation ISBN 978-1-61180-552-9
*Finding Rest in Illusion ISBN 978-1-61180-592-5

Volume One also translates passages from Longchenpa's autocommentary to Part One; each of Volume Two and Volume Three contains the whole of Longchenpa's respective autocommentary to Part Two and to Part Three.

Guenther, Herbert V., Kindly Bent to Ease Us. Berkeley, California: Dharma Publishing.
*Kindly Bent to Ease Us, Part One: Mind ISBN 0-913546-40-2
*Kindly Bent to Ease Us, Part Two: Meditation ISBN 0-913546-43-7
*Kindly Bent to Ease Us, Part Three: Wonderment ISBN 0-913546-45-3

Guenther makes reference to Longchenpa's autocommentaries in his introductions to the chapters and in his notes.
His distinctive rendering of the trilogy's title is borrowed from Jonathan Swift's Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift, D.S.P.D.: " This maxim more than all the rest / Is thought too base for human breast: / 'In all distresses of our friends, / We first consult our private ends; / While Nature, kindly bent to ease us, / Points out some circumstance to please us.'"
Part Two is also translated in

Dalai Lama, Mind in Comfort and Ease: The Vision of Enlightenment in the Great Perfection. Wisdom Publications, 2007.

Part Three is also translated in

Dowman, Keith, Maya Yoga: Longchenpa's Finding Comfort and Ease in Enchantment. Vajra Publications, 2010.